Declan Rice mistake distracts from the West Ham problem David Moyes claims does not exist

West Ham United's silent January was always going to trip them up. On a sopping wet Saturday lunchtime against the club that took the opposite approach to last month’s transfer window and spent wilfully in pursuit of survival, David Moyes' team looked sluggish from the start and exhausted by the end.

They could have zero complaints about a result that leaves them not only clinging on to hopes of a Champions League place that seemed more than realistic a few weeks ago but, once rivals' games in hand are factored in, no longer even sure of a Europa League spot.

Moyes said he was “thrilled” to take a draw against the team 17th in the table because the performance level was so poor but that cannot be the stance of a club with genuine ambitions of qualifying for Europe’s top competition.

To focus on the rare but sloppy error from Declan Rice that led to Joe Willock's equaliser on the stroke of half time would be missing the wider point as those around him looked void of energy and, as a consequence, inventiveness against a team that may have possessed momentum thanks to three consecutive wins but undoubtedly remain defensively porous and were without their best defender and attacker.

While Ryan Fredericks, hooked at the interval, endured a torrid opening half on the right side of West Ham's defence Newcastle's own third choice option in that role, Emil Krafth, was not targeted often enough.

Michail Antonio was again jaded and ineffective, the burden of leading the line without a back up more obvious than at any previous point in the campaign.

Jarrod Bowen, save for a difficult attempt that Martin Dubravka tipped onto his own crossbar, was below the level he has routinely set this season.

Said Benrahma went missing for long